“There's always something to be grateful for” - artist Māra Skuja

17 Oct, 2022, No comments

Me and Māra were brought together by the terrible cruel thing in the world - war. Even though she invited me to be friends on social network for a couple of years back, we were two strangers. And then, once I noticed her picture of the war, which she had created. The drawing was so powerful that I went to check the page from where it came. And here I discovered the 'Tautumeita', which has become our postcard. We started conversation, and gradually Māra got an essence. I have the honor to remind Latvia, via Typical Latvian, of its talented people who do not place emphasis on their health problems but on works.

How did your relationship with art begin?

In early childhood. Drawing was a natural pastime, I could draw, colour, read and do something on my own for hours.

What kind of style of an artist you consider yourself?

To be honest, I sometimes find it strange to think of myself as an artist. I can sing a little and I love to sing, but I don't call myself a singer for that.

However, when I think about style, it used to be my main goal to draw realistically, even hyper-realistically. Now I experiment more with colours and different medium - rapidographs, water colours, markers.

How has you been affected as an artist by your disability?

I would say that's one of the most important factors in why I chose art. If I didn't have a disability, I would definitely have taken up more active hobbies, different sports. As a child I loved ballet, but it was a distant and unattainable dream.

If you had to draw yourself, what would you draw? What is Māra through the prism of art?

Planets and galaxies come to mind. A small mess, a planet with its own inhabitants and its own rules that others have not yet discovered, and perhaps it is too big to explore.

What does it mean to you to display your soul on paper or an easel? What does it give you?

You are right to say about the eviction of the soul. In my work, people mostly admire the technical execution, but I think about an emotion that was behind the work. I've often felt that others see drawing as a joyful activity and ask, "When will there be a new drawing?", but you can't rush that emotional process. Sometimes the impulse comes from an unexpected situation.

Drawing is not just an activity to pass the time or to improve my skills, I have more often turned to drawing when I have accumulated too many emotions. With art and paper it's like with animals - they will listen to a story and not judge.

To many of us February 24th has made to reassess and a look at our life with different eyes. So I'll ask you what Latvia means to you?

I would say that Latvia means everything to me - home, family, friends, education, opportunities. Everything I have, I have got here. What I appreciate most about Latvia is the peace and the connection with nature. Poetically speaking, Latvia means to me to wander barefoot through flowering meadows in summer, to get my head going around the swirl of colours in autumn, to quietly watch the snowflakes on a winter evening and to blossom with new ideas and dreams in spring.

How does life in Latvia and Latvia itself influence your art?

Every place and experience influences what we do and create. The greatest influence comes from Latvia's beautiful nature, traditions and cultural symbols. The postcards available in the Typical Latvian shop are a prime example of this influence!

If we separate you from art, and in the artist's place stays just Māra? What is your daily life? What do you do each day?

I work in the Social Entrepreneurship Association of Latvia, I am a project assistant, which basically involves doing all sorts of things - creating visual materials, preparing articles for the website, making sure that the little things are done and everything is in place.

I see that you are a socially active person. For you social issues are important. It is important to not stand aside. Why? Do you believe that one person is enough for a big change?

People are often puzzled - so why do something voluntarily? I would rather like to answer with a counter-question - why would it be important to stand on the sidelines? I think that one person is not enough to make a big change, but a big change can certainly start with one person. We all live on the same planet and the consequences of every action affect us all to a greater or lesser extent. By taking care of others, we make things better for everyone.

What the artist Māra is dreaming about, and what just Māra is dreaming about?

Māra definitely dreams of buying new art materials, making notebooks full of drawings, having her own solo exhibition and celebrating its opening, as well as publishing her own book. And then there is one dream that has already come true - to create products with my art that you can buy in the Typical Latvian shop!

The other Māra dreams of us becoming more tolerant to each other and really accepting diversity. Unfortunately, we are more in favour of diversity on paper, but in reality we forget that we all need a different approach to grow, develop and give the best of ourselves. We do not get angry with vegetables if some of them need more sun or shade or need to be watered more often than others, do we?

Artist Māra Skuja (28)

Education:

Professional Bachelor's degree in Materials Technology
and Design, Riga Technical University

Māra's achievements:

In cooperation with the NGO "Room of Fulfilled Dreams",

the training material "Embodied change" has been
developed, which includes a deck of associative cards. (2019)

One of the artists in the book published by Zvaigzne ABC,

dedicated to the centenary of Latvia: "Latvian Folk Tales.
100 fairy tales. 100 artists". (2018)

In 2015, I was one of the artists whose works were on display

at the Cēsis Exhibition House

In the past, I took part in international art competitions, where

I won prizes. My first award was in 2012, when I won a bronze
medal in the international children and youth art competition
"Rainbow" and was invited to a thank-you event at the Latvian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Other competitions followed -
1st place in the international visual art competition "Birds in
Latvia" (2013) and recognition in the international visual art
competition "I Live by the Sea" (2014).

Māra as a person:

Lover of coffee, music and autumn. Spontaneous adventures,
surprises and active recreation are needed in equal doses with
peaceful activities.

Motto of life:

There is always something to be grateful for.

Māras wish to people without disabilities:

"Treat everyone with the same understanding and kindness as
you treat those in obvious difficulties. There are many people
with invisible disabilities around us every day and you may not
even know it, but that doesn't mean they have an easy life."

Māras wish to people with disabilities:

"If you see injustice, don't condemn others, help them to
understand and resolve it. The challenges faced by people
with disabilities are not the only ones that need to be sorted
out in today's world - people without disabilities also go through
different difficulties that may not be in your everyday sight."

You can follow Māra:

www.maraskuja.art
Instagram: @mara.drawings
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mara.Draws

The article was prepared by Elīna Bērziņa

Dark days are as many as light - work in animal shelter has its' crust ', yet faith in the good in people remains

24 May, 2021, No comments

Every year there is a moment, when on streets you hear more meowing than usual. Social networks have been flooded with pictures of new born kittens, there are the ones who proudly offer kittens born in their own barns, and those who have found them in boxes abandoned in a variety of places and now are looking for help. In those moments, similar to those when you run into wandering dog in which eyes you can read despair and abandonment, questions arise for those, who is responsible for vulnerable destinies. What is their excuse for irresponsibility? To balance the world, there are also people who rush to correct the irresponsible mistakes. At this time, I spoke with Elīna Dambe, manager of animal shelter “Astes un Ūsas”.

The mosaic art of Linda, which speaks about the harsh reality of “sweet” pop life - in the dog world!

6 May, 2021, No comments

During our conversation there is both - laughter and passionate exclamations, and there is a moment in which Linda can’t hide her tears. Tears roll out because of pain for fellow people, who are misunderstood, such as Greta Thunberg, who has been offended in comments by people, without getting a deeper understanding of her illness. About stereotypes which divide and prevent society from accepting people with differences. About the suffering of animals and nature. And at the moment, a little bit about herself too, because for her this Covid time has been difficult and has taken away a bit of her strength.

A good photograph is not taken by the camera, but by the person who stands behind it

25 Nov, 2020, No comments

GET TO KNOW A CATCHER OF MOMENTS ARTA JOMA (34)

Residence:

Ozolnieki

Education:

private courses of photography by artist Juris Zēbergs;
self-taught – processing of photography

Experience:

I photograph, since I remember myself, but professional photographs I have since 2017 (after the course)

Achievements of Arta:

2018: contest of photography „ Jelgava in centenary of Latvia” category ‘Pilsētainava’ 1st place
2018: contest of photography in district of Jelgava „Rivers in district of Jelgava” 2nd place
2019: contest of photography in district of Jelgava „Jelgava in 2019” category ‘Portrait’ 3rd place
2019: contest of photography in district of Jelgava „spring in park of Elejas manor” 2nd place

Favorite season for photographs:

Every, it's difficult to choose one. I'm leaning forward to spring, but it's just because it's mine favorite season (but I am doubtful that this is related to the photograph.)

The motto of life:

For living helps glowing eyes and healthy optimism.

Artas work can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/ArtaJomaFoto/

https://www.instagram.com/antikleopatra

(Inspiring) With an optimism and faith faces each day – painter Mareks

18 Oct, 2019, No comments

One day in your life, one your decision can change everything. This happened with Mareks. After that Mareks could sink or rise. He had the strength to rise. Before the accident, Mareks was a hospital attendant in the hospital, after accident – he become one of the most popular painters in Latvia. His paintings cheers up not only people of Latvia, but also travels abroad to bring faith and love there.

One day after another or daily routine – to not loose mind, if you are strong in spirit.

As Mareks admits, mostly all days are the same. Except for cases when he has to be part of some events. In the mornings, Mareks turns to his side, reads the Bible, which is a mandatory part of his day, as the painter says himself: “It is needed for the growth of my spirit.” After that he takes a look of what is happening on social networks. Around 11:00 he starts his trainings. Then he and his assistant eat the lunch. Up until 17:00/18:00 he paints, except for cases, if some visitor does not come that day. Then he eat dinner, watch some movie and relaxes.

(Every day) Own workspace – one of the reasons which make life beautiful!

6 Aug, 2019, No comments

The heroine of our blog's first story is Ligita Stikuste. At the moment she works as a volunteer, at Lucnava Manor, but she hopes to return as an employee soon. All the young woman's expectations are at stake for repeated creation of a workplace. When Ligita talks about work – her face shines. A spirit of happiness jumps in her eyes, and there is a smile on her lips. The course of the day at Luznava Manor has become part of her. Being a part of something – it has been another reason, why to Ligita life seems beautiful. If there wasn't that cloud …cloud named, if she will be able to succeed in getting a job in the near future to her dear manor!?

Be a social entrepreneur – what does it mean?!

5 Sep, 2018, No comments

When we started our business, our social goal was – through product create emotional connection between people, nourish and enrich in a deeper level than Technologies possibly can. When time passed – due to the different circumstances – we understood that we can do much more. Since her birth, one of the company founders are in a wheelchair, so we found other social goal quite easy – people with disabilities, integration within work environment and community. It goes hand to hand with education of potential employers and community itself.

In this article you can see some thoughts from company’s’ chief executive and co-founder Elīna regarding meaning of Social Company:

Write or not to write. Better write

15 Feb, 2018, No comments

However gloomy day you have, it can be brighten up, if you find unexpected postcard or letter at your mail box. Lets talk regarding reasons, why you should consider writting a postcards:

Your time is most valuable thing, which you can share
Each day we see a lot of news – you send messages, spend time on Facebook etc. Information layers up, phones can be broken and messages can be lost. Are those writtings, regarding experiences, have to be lost? Wouldn’t it be great – at gloomy day, take and read them again? How much would it take – if you would share your hearh warmth at holidays, with real greeting? Imagine what it would mean to your friend. No, why only at holidays. Better do it daily – unexpectedly, warmly suprise your loved ones by sending them postcard. Yes, message reaches faster, but not speed is most valuable. It is time, which you have spent by coming to store, buying a postcard and writting it by hand. That way you give a message – you share your precious time.

Artist Māra Skuja (28)

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